A
credit score is a sum used by lenders as an indicator of how
likely you are to repay your loans. Your
credit score is generated by a mathematical formula utilizing
the data from your TransUnion, Equifax or Experian credit reports. Lenders have
been using credit scores as part of the lending decision for over than 20
years.
What factors influence my credit score?
Various factors determine your
credit score, including the following:
- Payment History
- Outstanding debt
- Length of credit history
- Severity and frequency of derogatory credit
information such as bankruptcies, charge-offs, and collections
- The amount of credit used compared to the credit
available
How does my credit score affect me?
Your
credit score is an important indicator of your financial
health. Lenders use your credit score to determine:
- Whether or not you are a good candidate for a loan
- What type of interest rate you will pay
While your
credit score is a key determinant of your creditworthiness,
lenders also examine the information on your
credit report and your loan application. Regularly checking
your
credit report enables you to:
- Be informed of the most up-to-date information in
your
credit history.
- Correct any inaccuracies, to make sure that your
credit data is a true depiction of your
credit record and increasing your chances of receiving credit
under the best possible terms
What is a "good" credit score?
There are
several types of
credit scores available. Typically, the higher the score, the
better. Each lender decides what credit score range it considers to be a good
credit risk or a poor credit risk. For this reason, the lender is the best
source to explain what your credit score means in relation to the final credit
decision. After all, they determine the criteria used to extend credit. The
credit score is only one component of information evaluated by lenders.
What is credit scoring?
Credit scoring is
a method used by lenders to help decide whether or not you are a good candidate
for a loan.
Lenders employ a credit scoring system to determine your credit
score:
- Compares information in your
credit report to the performance of consumers who have
similar credit characteristics
- Examines many credit characteristics including your
payment history, the number and kind of accounts you have, the number and
frequency of late payments, and any collections or bankruptcies
Generally speaking, positive credit characteristics
make your score higher and help you to qualify for better loans. Negative
characteristics make your score lower and may interfere with your ability to
qualify for the best loan terms.
How is a credit scoring model developed?
A
lender creates a credit scoring model by using several criteria:
- Selecting a large sampling of customers
- Analyzing the data in their
credit reports to determine which factors relate to
creditworthiness
- Assigning a degree of importance to each of the
factors, based on how accurate a predictor it is in determining who will repay
their loan on time
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